At least 800 personnel from the French Army have docked in Kenya in a new phase in the defence partnership between France and Kenya.
The troops, who arrived aboard three French warships that recently docked at the Port of Mombasa, are in the country for a mission focussed on training and regional maritime security cooperation.
According to French ambassador to Kenya Arnaud Suuet, the deployment forms part of a broader security collaboration between Nairobi and Paris aimed at strengthening defence ties and improving stability in the Indian Ocean region.
Suquet says the arrival of the French personnel reflects the growing strategic relationship between the two countries, noting that the mission is intended to enhance defence coordination and improve operational readiness between the two militaries.
A key focus of the visit will be joint training exercises with the Kenya Defence Forces, particularly naval units responsible for safeguarding Kenya’s coastline.
“The mission of the French group deployed here is a training mission for cadets. We have some young officers that will finish their training at sea and then join the first unit,” Romain Boyer a spokesperson of the French embassy said.
Boyer emphasised that deployment goes beyond classroom-style instruction, noting that the personnel are participating in real maritime operations while working with Kenyan counterparts.
“But it is an operational mission. We are training and delivering an operation at sea. It is all about partnership, especially with the rise in war and conflict in the Indian Ocean,” he added.
French personnel will also provide advanced training to Kenyan naval officers and sailors. The program will focus on maritime operations, coordination at sea and modern naval tactics designed to improve security across the region’s waters.
The arrival of the warships comes as Kenya considers strengthening formal defence ties with France through a new agreement currently under review.
The proposed Defence Cooperation Agreement has been tabled in the National Assembly of Kenya and seeks to establish a framework governing French military personnel operating in Kenya.
Under the proposed pact, French soldiers could receive diplomatic-style privileges while carrying out official duties in the country. The agreement would also define rules for visiting forces, including logistical support, legal protections and operational guidelines.
The deal aims to deepen cooperation between Kenya and France in areas such as military training, joint exercises and intelligence sharing. Lawmakers have invited the public and other stakeholders to submit their views before the agreement is ratified.
France remains one of the world’s most capable military powers, with the French Armed Forces widely regarded as among the strongest in Europe thanks to their advanced naval fleets and modern land forces.
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